Hurricane Irene

This past weekend, the coast of NC took a pounding.  My family took almost a direct hit from the Hurricane Irene but thankfully the storm weakened considerably before landfall and everyone made out okay. It was still a very serious situation and in the end, I am so thankful my family only has a few missing shutters and shingles to deal with because not everyone was so fortunate.

Because we were peeled to the news and it was a constant topic around the house for the week leading up to the storm, obviously the kids had picked up on the event.

And obviously I buy Avery too many special outfits because as we were on our way to dinner on Friday night, she pipes up from the back seat that needs a "hurricane outfit". HAHA! I was so proud of her and then thinking I have totally created a monster, all at the same time!!!

Meet the Pack

After bad weather canceled a trip to the mountains, we decided to make the most of stay in Raleigh over the weekend and go to Meet the Pack Day at Carter-Finley Stadium. Although it was raining when we left the house, we decided to chance it anyway, knowing that all the autograph tables would be set up on the concourse underneath the upper deck.

Of course last time we made a trip to Carter-Finley in the rain, while we had an awesome time at the Spring Game, we were hit with some pretty awful weather that afternoon. Thankfully this was not a repeat occurrence!

waiting in line

We got there and were excited to see the sea of red! The lines were pretty long so we only stood in two: the defensive linemen and Mr. and Miss Wuf. The men's soccer team was also there and of course Will got their autographs too.

Will was VERY CUTE and totally enamored by the big boys. He would hand one of them is autograph book and then prop us chin up in his hands and just look at them in awe while they signed it. He told a few of them about wanting to play for the Wolfpack one day.

Avery didn't do so well with Mr. Wuf and Miss Wuf. Although she did manage to give them a high five. I hope her love for Mickey Mouse outweighs her fear of big costumed animals or else this is going to be a mad mommy at Disney World!!

And this is just some random kid who was eating gross popcorn off the dirty, wet ground while his mom did something on her phone!!

We're really looking forward to the first football game! Will has already planned out our tailgating menu: hot dogs, chips, fruit salad, cookies and popsicles!!

The Big Red Barn

Recently, one of Avery's best little buds turned two. Garrison (maybe linking to his page will shame his Mommy to get back into the blogging world!!!) and Avery are two peas in a pod and just love each other. Will also has taken Garrison under his wing. I find Will holding Garrison's hand, leading him places (probably to play with forbidden toys or run around and scream...you know what boys do best!).  I am from the same hometown as Garrison's parents, although they are slightly younger than me. Every Friday night we are in town, we try to do dinner with them.

Dressed for the occasion: a smocked dress and camo rain boots!

Garrison had his party on this neat little farm in Wake Forest. Farmer Mary had a wide array of animals and most of them were just roaming free amongst the party guests. Some guests (like Will) found this more fun than others (like Avery). Avery liked them from a distance!

Will and his little buddy, Garrison

Some of the cool animals we got to party with included some peacocks, goats, pigs, ducks, geese, chickens, an emu, donkey and a few more I am sure I am forgetting.

Big Mama (Lindy has a striking resemblance to her we think)

And while it rained, we stayed dry for a long time under Farmer Mary's towering old trees. Lisa really outdid herself with the food and decor. The cupcakes were decorated like pigs, sheep and chickens. Too cute!

Farmer Mary

Big Mama can move when Will and Garrison chase her!!

Happy Birthday, Garrison!!!!

Happy Birthday to the Boys!!!

Several weeks ago, my favorite set of triplets turned O-N-E!!!!  They have had quite a first year full of ups and downs but I am so happy and proud that I got to celebrate their first birthday with them.  We made a day trip out of our trip to the coast and enjoyed a fun afternoon at the three ring circus!

Happy Birthday Austin, Currin and Lee

Elizabeth really outdid herself with the decorations and party planning. Not a single detail was over looked. The food was so yummy.....food fit for a circus: hot dogs, popcorn, circus peanuts, fruit, snow cones and lemonade.  And don't forget the gorgeous cakes and tasty cupcakes!

And don't forget the midway games.....

It has been a couple of months since we have seen the boys....they have grown so much! Will and Avery are still enamored with them and just giggle with glee every time they see them.  Speaking of giggling....funny pics of my kids....

Avery the Clown

Avery gets stuck in the window while Big Bro Will runs to the rescue (while bad mommy stops to take a pic!!)

pretty in blue

Will and the wasp....right before it stung him

 When it was cake time, the boys did not disappoint. Jon gave an awesome and emotional speech before the boys were allowed to dig in. 

Austin

Currin

Lee

The boys and their "Big Daddy"

My favorite family of 6!

The aftermath

 The boys' big sister also recently celebrated her 4th birthday!!

Happy Birthday, Lilly!!!

Fairy Tales

Recently, the children spent a week learning about fairy tales at school. The end the week, they had a fairy tale party and parade on Friday afternoon.  Of course dress up was involved! Will went as a dragon and Avery, of course, went as a princess.

Surprisingly, we do not really have a lot of dress up clothes/accessories at our house. I am sure this is will change soon though with Avery growing up. I made a quick trip to the Dollar Tree, and $3 later, came home with some great pieces.

I found a dinosaur hat for Will that was green and decided it could pass as a dragon. A few cuts of scrapbook paper later and we had a fire breathing dragon! Pair it with an inside out green shirt and some green shorts and voila!!  Will's only complaint was that his dragon didn't have "muscles" and he begged me to draw "upside down rainbows" on his shirt. 

Will the Dragon

At the store, I got Avery a tiara and wand. Yes, she has other tiaras but they don't fit her big head and this was a nice, large and flexible tiara. She already had a pink tutu so we put that with a monogrammed shirt and Princess Avery was created!

Princess Avery having a royal snack

They had a great time at all the festivities and luckily Matt and I were both able to be there so both children had a parent with them at their parties. It didn't take long for Avery to start requesting her Bubba though, so she spent a good portion of the party in his classroom.

Avery's party

Will's party

The parade

I tried to get a good picture of them together afterwards but obviously my hopes were too high!

All tuckered out

Mind Games

I've been hustled. By a 4 year old. At the game of Memory. Tail whippin' is what I got. Oh, and don't forget the getting hustled part.

Will has recently started playing a lot of Memory at school so of course we've been playing it at home too. It is a hard game to play with a 2 year old little sister hanging around because she likes to move the pieces, take the pieces, destroy the game, etc....So while she was napping on Sunday afternoon, Will and I sat down to a riveting game of Memory.

First mistake I made....don't let a 4 year old spread the pieces out. Come to find out, he cheats.Okay, that is harsh. He gives himself a competitive advantage right out the gate.

So we start playing. Right off the bat he gets several matches. Hummmm....but I really don't think anything of it. Pretty soon he is really beating me. At one point he gives me a hint, albeit an INCORRECT one, and then just starts laughing and says he likes to trick people while playing this game. So the next few times I am hesitating and he gives me hints, of course I don't take them. Yeah, I don't get the matches either. Guess who does. Hustled; that is what I was.....

Now I'd like to say that it was me not giving the game my undivided attention (which I wasn't) but man, I was getting mad. My competitive streak was getting the best of me (against a 4 year old). At one point I called Pluto that "dumb dog".  Ha!! Not my finest parenting moment!!

But I have to give it to Will....he is actually really good at this game. And hustling.

Raindrops keep falling on my head...finally!

 After what seems like weeks and weeks (we have a dirt front yard to prove it), the skies finally opened not once, but twice this weekend.  My 3 "kids" had to go out and have a good stomp or two before lunch on Sunday.......